It’s hard to keep your children away from sugar during any time of the year, Saratogian Lifestyle warns: Don’t let it get out of hand.

Over-consumption of white sugars is a problem for many children that can lead to obesity, nutritional deficiencies and a host of other health issues. Excessive sugar consumption is also believed to affect a child’s mood and energy level. Not to mention that sugar causes the formation of plaque and attracts cavity causing bacteria on teeth.

Dr. Farzad Sani of Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls says that nutrition is very important for your teeth and overall health, children need to have a well-balanced diet.

Healthy eating must be instilled in children from a young age, Saratogian Lifestyle offers tips on reducing sugar to keep kids healthy:

Beware the sippy cups. Children shouldn’t sip on sugary drinks or munch on sugary foods for extended periods of time. Serve to children in moderation and mix with water.

Don’t use sugary treats as rewards: It can certainly be tempting to offer candy as rewards or incentives for good behavior, this can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors. Try to use stickers instead.

Among the highest rent burdened households, 40 percent said they skimped on the dentist, compared to 26 percent of the lowest rent burden households. Dental care appears to get cut first, followed by routine check-ups and prescription medication.

*Another possible source of lower-cost dental care is a dental school clinic. Generally, dental costs in school clinics are reduced and may include only partial payment for professional services covering the cost of materials and equipment. Your state society should be able to tell you if there is a clinic in your area.

But imagine visiting a friendly neighborhood dentist 14,000 years ago when, during the Paleolithic era, when the most advanced tool he or she had was likely a sharp rock.

A human tooth specimen discovered from this era was found to be treated for a cavity.

And if the word “Paleolithic” sounds familiar to you, it probably is. You’ve most likely have heard of the “Paleo Diet,” also known as the caveman diet, whose followers (myself included) have been increasing in droves during the past several years. Though you might enjoy snacking on lean proteins, fruits and vegetables and nuts, seeds and healthy fats, be thankful you don’t have to follow in the footsteps of the hunter-gatherers in all aspects of their former lives. Dental visits might be a little more painful!

The journal “Scientific Reports” published the story earlier this month and according to an article on cnet.com, archaeologists found the prehistoric pearly white (or off-white) at a dig site in Northern Italy in 1988. Tests on the tooth show that it hails from the Late Upper Paleolithic era, circa 13,820 to 14,160 years ago.

Stefano Benazzi, a paleoanthropologist from the University of Bologna, who co-authored the story told Discovery News that no one realized how much of a big deal the tooth was until 25 years later.

Researchers discovered a cavity in the tooth that contained “extensive enamel chipping” made before the death of the specimen at approximately 25 years.

The chips and the cavity suggest that people living during the Paleolithic era had “at least some knowledge of disease treatment,” according to the study’s abstract.

But this poor soul wasn’t alone.

There have been several other discoveries that prove humans in past eras tried to fix each other’s teeth. According to a study published in the journal PLoS ONE in 2012, researchers discovered that in the Neolithic era, ancient humans used beeswax as a filling material on a cracked canine tooth from a human jaw found in a cave in Slovenia more than a century ago, according to LiveScience. Yikes.

Next time you family dentist visit arrives, count your lucky stars they’re not cracking open your tooth with a rock and filling it with beeswax!

* Parents with children 12 and under: Nearly half (48 percent) of parents say they are nervous about going to the dentist, and roughly the same number (47 percent) of their children share the sentiment.

* While moms (55 percent) are more nervous than dads (40 percent) prior to their own dental appointment, they tend to have an easier time getting their kids to go to the dentist. Nineteen percent of moms say it’s one of the hardest things to do vs. 37 percent of dads.

The study also showed that 30% of children are fearful of going to the dentist. This is not all learned from parents. Other reasons children are nervous: a painful visit, a lengthy appointment in the past, additional dental work on the horizon, or a dentist the child does not like.

Delta Dental offers some tips to help make children’s dental visits more comfortable:

Start taking your children to the dentist at a young age. Preferably six months of getting the first tooth—and no later than the first birthday.

Talk positively. If children ask questions before a visit to the dentist, avoid using words that could make them scared. Avoid saying the dentist won’t hurt them; try to assure them the dentist will check their smile and their teeth.

Children like to play games. Play dentist at home, have them open their mouth and count their teeth. Then, tell them to practice on their stuffed animals.

Innovation is crucial at a dental practice, especially one specializing in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Though expected to arrive in the form of equipment and instruments, in the case of Dr. Matthew J. Conquest’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office, innovation also comes to light in the interior design realm.

Decorative wall panels, made from carefully selected hardwood, have been conceived to inspire designers, architects and every single interior design lover.

These decorative products, FriendlyWall® and Mur Finium® wall panels, manufactured by Finium, are distributed in Canada, the United States and now in some European countries.

As a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Matthew J. Conquest‘s expertise ranges from facial trauma to wisdom tooth removal. His particular interests in dental implants, bone grafting/reconstruction, and corrective jaw surgery require unique vision and skill.

To incorporate unique vision into his practice design as well, he consulted with Benco Dental’s CenterPoint Design team.

Dental Designer Greg Marinelli suggested Finium FriendlyWall based on its high quality and ease of installation.
“When designing the waiting area of a new dental practice, I look to the finishes, proper lighting, and furniture to create a relaxed, anxiety-friendly atmosphere. In Dr. Conquest’s new space I was inspired by the texture and warm tones of Finium’s Friendly Wood wall. This wood is a sustainable product, which means it is created from the by-product of cabinet makers; a great second life for this otherwise scrapped wood,” said Marinelli.

Recently, Finium showcased Dr. Conquest’s office on the homepage of their website: http://www.finium.ca

Finium is recognized for its Wood + Innovation. In 1999, these key elements made Finium an important player in the North American industry of prefinished wood products.

Sponsored by Clarion Financial for the third year, the 2016 Incisal Edge Design Contest, aims to reward creativity and innovation. They’ve invited a blue ribbon panel of judges, who will select the top designs, and provide their thoughts on each.